Classic Driver magazine recently named their classic car of the week: the 1936 Mercedes –Benz 540K. Let us rekindle who this car was.Think back to the early 30’s. When sports cars were dynamic, roadsters were elegant and convertibles stretched to long distances. Their engines were powered by six or eight cylinders – consuming gas like crazy.
The Mercedes-Benz 500K exuded class and exclusivity. It was most loved for its aggressive beauty. However, the main criticism was that it did not deliver good performance results. Charis Whitcombe from Classic Driver magazine maintains, “… it lacked outright performance, the 5-litre 500 K caused quite a stir.”
On the other hand, in terms of comfort and style the 500K was years ahead of its predecessors and contemporaries. Its lightweight design and maneuverability were revolutionary.
The Mercedes–Benz 540K had a front-mounted 8 cylinder engine. It registered up to 115 units of horsepower (hp) without a supercharger and scored 180hp with a supercharger. The automobile also had a 4-speed gearbox that could go up to a maximum of 170 kilometers per hour (kph).
The Mercedes–Benz 540K is definitely one of the greatest sports cars of the century. Its designs revolutionized a brand and its style set the foundation for the modern sports cars.
Pay homage to one of our queens!
Sources: ClassicCar.com
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